Prince Concealed Opioid Addiction Using Aspirin Bottles: Report

Opioid painkillers were reportedly found hidden across Prince’s Paisley Park estate shortly after his accidental fentanyl overdose in April 2016, according to court documents released Monday. Vitamin and Aspirin bottles were reportedly among methods used to conceal the narcotics. Some of the bottles discovered on the property were prescribed to one of Prince’s employees.

The documents, search warrants and affidavits from the Carver County Sherriff’s Office, were unsealed Monday, according to the New York Times. As CNN points out, the newly released information could in part shed some light on the trajectory of the ongoing criminal investigation into Prince’s death.

Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg, who had been treating Prince at the time of his death, reportedly told authorities that he had prescribed Oxycodone to the musician on the same day as his overdose on a private jet a week prior to his death. At least one prescription was procured by Prince under the name of his friend and aide Kirk Johnsonm, according to the documents. Schulenberg allegedly "put the prescription in Kirk Johnson’s name for Prince’s privacy."

Representatives for Johnson did not immediately return International Business Times’ request for comment.

Among the opioids discovered on the property were more than 20 white pills labeled "Watson 853," or hydrocodone-acetaminophe, reportedly found in an Aleve bottle. Investigators reportedly also found capsules labeled A-349, which CNN reported were found elsewhere in Prince’s estate. According to the Times, the documents also indicated that investigators later discovered the pills contained fentanyl, however authorities have not clarified whether they were tied to Prince’s death.

Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 57 on April 21, 2016. It was later discovered that the pills he’d taken contained fentanyl, a powerful opioid and one of the strongest available on the market.

"The investigation remains active at this point," chief deputy for the Carver County Sheriff’s Office Jason Kamerud said, according to the Times.